Career and Technical Education

This site provides you with information on curriculum, programs, rules, and other information for Career and Technical Education (CTE). We welcome any suggestions you may have that will improve this site for individuals working to provide high quality career and technical programs for students. Join the CTE mailing list and receive updates.

Career and technical education programs offer a sequence of courses that provides students with coherent and rigorous content. CTE content is aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions.

Statewide CTE Programs of Study

The Division of College, Career, and Military Preparation has engaged members of the workforce, secondary education, and higher education to advise on the development of programs of study, including coherent sequences of courses, industry-based certifications, and work-based learning to ensure students are prepared for in-demand, high-skill, high-wage careers in Texas.

The proposed programs of study go into effect for the 2020-2021 school year and will allow Texas to meet the federal program approval requirements within the Strengthening CTE for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). Programs of study documents can be viewed by following the link below:

As stated during the public comment process for programs of study, statewide labor market data does not support offering all CTE course sequences at every high school across Texas. Each year, local education agencies with labor market data to support regional programs of study may submit an application for additional course sequences. The application will require the submission of labor market data that validates the occupations and course sequence of the proposed program of study being aligned with regional needs for high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand careers.

If you have identified a program of study that leads to high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand occupations in your region that is not included in the final versions of the statewide programs of study, please begin the application process. The first phase in the application process will involve districts declaring their intent to apply for a regional program of study to the Education Service Center CTE Specialist. Each ESC CTE Specialist will communicate the process for initiating a regional program of study application to each district within their region.

Perkins V Transition Plan

On July 31, 2018, the President signed Perkins V into law. This law reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. Perkins V reflects the 100-year federal commitment to CTE by providing federal support for CTE programs and focuses on improving the academic and technical achievement of CTE students, strengthening the connections between secondary and postsecondary education and improving accountability. The Perkins V Transition Plan for the 2019-2020 school year can be viewed by following the link below:

Industry-Based Certifications (IBCs)

2019-2020 Approved Industry-Based Certifications for Public School Accountability

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is releasing the updated list of industry-based certifications to be used for public school accountability. The new list of industry-based certifications is scheduled to go into effect for the 2019-2020 school-year and will apply to school accountability ratings in August 2021.

As the new list is reviewed, please make note of the following:

Business, Marketing and Finance clusters have been aligned together. In addition, Government & Public Administration has been aligned with the Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security career cluster.

Industry-Based Certifications are valuable in multiple career clusters. An example of this is the Autodesk AutoCAD certification which aligns with several careers. If the certification is earned, a district should report the certification regardless of the primary cluster identified on the list.

1 page documents will be created to show detailed information relating to each certification.

Dale Fowler, Statewide CTE Coordinatordale.fowler@tea.texas.gov
Business Management and Administration
Finance
Government and Public Administration
Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security
Marketing